Contribution to the study of the cartilagines corniculata (santorini) and cuneiformis (wrisbergi) in the larynx of Sus scrofa domestica)

Abstract

This study was originated by the discordance of discriptions presented by several AA. upon the cuneiform (Wrisberg) and corniculate (Santorini) cartilages, in the pig. About this subject BOURDELLE, LESBRE and BRUNI offer us short discriptions of the laryngeal cartilages without mentioning the acessories ones. FAVILLI and CARADONNA mentions the existence of the Wrisberg cartilage included in the ari-epiglottic fold but when describing the arytenoid cartilage they accept as a part of this structure the long and curved prolongacion soldered to that of the opposite side, which bounds the aditus laryngis dorsally. Finally MARTIN and ELLERBERGER-BAUM admit that the elastic cartilage applied to the apical portion of the arytenoid is the Santorini cartilage, and therefore when speaking of this formation they describe both parts, resulting from the division of the free extremity, as dependant of this cartilage. Larynges from 4 adult animals and 2 fetuses at birth time were used, in this study. The pieces of adult animals were stained with methylgreen and diaphanised by the Spalteholz method. The larynges of fetuses were sectioned serially at 10 microns in a transverse plane, and stained with hematoxilin-eosin. Spalteholz method made possible the observation of morphological details in the arytenoids, cuneiform and corniculate cartilages as well as in the cartilagineous nucleus always present between the medial angles of the arytenoids. The slides clear up some doubtful points relatively to the behaviour of the cartilages. Technics employed and the appreciation of literature permitted us to come to the following conclusions: 1) There is a desagreement on the several descriptions of the accessory cartilages concerning the larynx of the pig. 2) The larynx of this animal, situated within the aryepiglottic fold, presents, the c artilago cuneiformis (Wrisbergi). This cartilage, well developed in the adult animal, is connected by the ventral border to the arytenoid and corniculate ones; in fetuses it presents complete independence in the interior of the mentionated fold. 3) The cartilago corniculata (Santorini) usually situated in the apice of the arytenoid, is closely connected to this last and therefore, it becomes impossible to identify it as an isolated formation. Hwever, being aware abouth the origin of this cartilage, from the division of the arytenoid extremity, and moreover knowing that its structure is elastic, contrasting with the arytenoid cartilage which is hyaline, we have to admit that this cartilage exists in the larynx of Sus scrof a domestica.